Abbas Mohaddes

CAVita

Giving life to transformational technology in transportation1

AASHTO’s Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering

(SCOTE)2016 meeting – Savannah, GA

Connected and automated vehicles State and local agencies ramifications

Agenda

• Common understanding of connected and automated vehicles

• Technology trends, timing

• Key players

• Ramification to states and local communities

• Key barriers for deployment

• Plan for it?!

The term “connected vehicles” refers to both connecting vehicles and infrastructure, and to connection among all ground vehicle players: cars, freight trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.

• other modes such as BRT, heavy and light rail is included

• Connected refers to licensed wireless, Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), other cellular technologies (i.e. 5G,etc.), satellite, internet, and all forms of telematics. Often, connectivity is referred to as “V2X”

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What are connected vehicles?

– “Connected” only becomes highly effective when the density of equipped vehicles in the traffic stream increases to a certain point.

• Rate of deployment of V2X technology in vehicles and infrastructure is a key issue.

• Requires consideration of “original equipment” fitment in both vehicles and infrastructure, as well as the use of the aftermarket for vehicles and potentially for infrastructure as well.

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What are connected vehicles? (continued)

• Connected vehicles (and infrastructure) rely on wireless communication– The selected wireless regime provides a

platform upon which a rich variety of applications may be placed and operated.

– The requirements of the application – its purpose and scope – largely determine the necessary capabilities of the assigned wireless communication method.

– In the United States, connected vehicles have been developed primarily for the purpose of deploying safety applications. While safety applications may cover a wide field in terms of specificity for avoiding crashes, the adopted wireless method must accommodate the most demanding applications.

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CV technologies and trends

• The platform development that was largely funded by the USDOT uses Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC)– uses part of a 75 MHz slice of licensed spectrum at 5.9

GHz.– Signal reliability and short latency of this wireless

regime are suitable for highly specific safety applications like forward collision warning, or automatic braking system.

– It is possible that future versions of cellular technology, such as 5G, will have adequate technical performance –similar to DSRC – and will need to be considered.

– The DSRC platform is used to send Basic Safety Messages (BSMs) that contain vehicle position, speed and heading, as a minimum. BSMs are sent ten times per second and are received by equipped vehicles and infrastructure equipment in the immediate vicinity.

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CV technologies and trends (continued)

• The deployment of DSRC roadside equipment in the infrastructure –especially at intersections and on curves – is a necessary development, along with a sufficient density of equipped vehicles in a given traffic stream.

• While equipment vendors and the traffic control industry have the necessary technology, the business case for paying for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the roadside equipment is not at all clear.

• A minimum level of roadside equipment is needed for connected vehicle support functions - such as the operation of security systems – and higher levels of deployment will provide important V2I advantages for traffic operations and safety (beyond those which V2V has to offer).

• In addition to the roadside equipment, it is necessary to have a “data backhaul” (getting data to a point from which it can be distributed over a network) to centralized locations.

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CV technologies and trends (continued)

• Typically housed in traffic control cabinets, with transmission equipment high-mounted on signal arms, poles and gantries.

What are automated vehicles?• AVs cover a very broad range of functions, from driver-

assist interventions to full driverless capability– The term “automated vehicle” includes “autonomous

vehicle” (having more reliance on on-board technologies)

• The common feature of all AVs is the replacement of one or more human control functions with machine functions

• In order to describe an AV, it is necessary to consider:– The intended role of the driver– The intended operating environment

• The AV value proposition has a short-term focus on convenience and efficiency, and a long-term focus on shared mobility services– Safety is a major criterion: starting with the safe

introduction of automated features, and ending with a mobility system free of crashes

Elements of automation

• Sensing of the vehicle location and immediate environment of roadway, roadside and traffic

• Determination of “situation awareness”

• Recognition of traffic conflicts

• Determination of control actions

– Subject to driving norms and road rules

• Effecting and monitoring control

Examples of AV features• Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) to apply a car’s brakes in an

imminent collision when the driver has failed to act– To be deployed voluntarily in 2022 subject to 2016 NHTSA agreement

with 20 automakers

• Advanced multi-function cruise control that drives the car on a freeway– Super Cruise on 2017 Cadillac

• Platooning of long-distance freight trucks on major highways– Following vehicles automatically travel behind the lead vehicle at short

headways– Significant gains in fuel economy

• The vehicle takes over control traveling at very low speed in a traffic congestion– Applicable to long-distance freight trucks when encountering a zone of

intense congestion– Provides fatigue relief for the driver

How do automated vehicles differ from connected vehicles?

• Connected vehicles provide drivers with warnings related to the behavior of other vehicles, or infrastructure factors such as curves

– The driver still has to take the control action

– V2V-V2I connectivity relies on a highly-effective sensor and does not replace the driver

• Connected vehicles are not necessarily automated; automated vehicles will eventually be connected

Role of the driver• Both NHTSA and SAE have defined levels of automation

from the perspective of the required role of the driver• The driver’s role is viewed in terms of:

– Eyes on/off the road– Hands on/off the wheel– Feet on/off the pedals

• Distinction is made between the machine or driver monitoring operating conditions (and the need for the driver to regain control)

• The time available for the driver to regain control is important– Some companies and experts are opposed to technologies

that require such monitoring and sudden reinsertion of driver control

NHTSA Automation definition

0

Driver Only

No automated driving features

1

Specific Function Automation

Example: Electronic stability control--

vehicle automatically assists with braking

2

Combined Function Automation

Example: Adaptive cruise control with

lane centering

3

Limited Self-Driving Automation

Driver cedes full control of all safety

critical function under certain traffic

conditions or situations

4

Full Self-Driving Automation

Vehicle performs all safety-critical driving

functions

How do AVs relate to the infrastructure and traffic environment?

• The sensors on AVs recognize certain infrastructure features such as lane markings, signs and signals

• A future state with high penetration of AVs may allow roadway geometry to change– eg. Narrower lanes

• AVs need to co-exist with conventional vehicles– Both need to follow the same “rules of the road”– Machines currently drive conservatively and many drivers are

the opposite

• Driverless vehicles will be introduced in certain contained and controlled environments, as part of public-private mobility schemes– Important element of Smart Cities programs– Such schemes will be place-based and may bundle other

technologies such as electrification

CV and AV can proceed independently on parallel paths but

will converge to produce “connected automation”

Convergence of CV and AV paths

“Connected Automation”

Disruptive (Revolutionary) path of deployment• OEM’s, and Suppliers aggressively develop, Federal and States policies facilitate development to reach a significant number on roads by 2025

Evolutionary path to deployment

The tipping point for CAV2025 – 2030 timeframe

• V2V and V2I are widely deployed– Cybersecurity and privacy issues are settled

• Privately-owned vehicles with automated features (such as AEB) are widely used– Many of these vehicles have the additional benefit of V2V and V2I

connectivity

• Driverless vehicle standards and operating rules are available– Cybersecurity & privacy measures are proven adequate for AVs on

a large scale– Experience with mobility services using tailored driverless vehicles – Sufficient connected infrastructure is available

What are key policy and technical ramifications of CVdeployment for States and cities?

• Standards

– Guidance V2I from FHWA and Consistent V2I standards development ( by national Associations) is promising

• Communication – Accommodate seamless implementation from state to state

– DSRC, Wi-Fi and other means

• Roadway readiness

– Geometric ramifications

• Dedicated CV lanes at certain deployment scale?

• Roadside communication units (RSU’s)

– Significant testing required – Pilot and demonstration projects

– How to fund it?

• Pavement marking/signing

– More consistency and maintenance might be required

What are key policy and technical ramifications of CVdeployment for States and cities? (continued)

• Roadway sensors– Capital improvement and Maintenance might be

required

• Operational– Shorter headway will be helpful for traffic throughput– Real time Bottleneck warning will help traffic flow– Weaving issues due to shorter headways

• Truck platooning– Potential early deployment – Standards– Multi-state pilots– Geometric ramifications? Possible dedicated lane at

scale

What are key policy and technical ramifications of CVdeployment for States and cities? (continued)

• At what scale of deployment we need to do what?

• Business models – Affording to absorb the cost of installing and maintaining the system?

– CV provides a significant ROI in safety and traffic operations benefits

• Consumer demand – will drive the deployment

• Consumer outreach and education

– Need for harmonization and common approach

What are key policy and technical ramifications of AVdeployment for States and cities?

• Vehicle Code modifications

• Standards

– Uniformity in all states

– Set too early might stifle innovation

– Guidance V2I from FHWA and Consistent V2I standards development ( by national Associations?)

• Communication and sensors

• RSU’s and intersection readiness

• Operational and geometric ramifications

What are key policy and technical ramifications of AVdeployment for States and cities?

• Pavement marking/signing

• At what scale of deployment we need to do what?

• Business models – Who can afford to absorb the cost of installing and maintaining the system?

• Consumer demand– Consumer acceptance

– Consumer outreach and education

• Shared use economy

• State, local jurisdictions and national responsibilities

What are key policy and technical ramifications of AVdeployment for States and cities? (Continued)

• Would the insurance system change to be more uniform across states or OEM’s should be required to accept more responsibility for damages and injuries?

• Settling in on a process for deciding whether a specific vehicle automation system is “safe enough” to operate on public roads, across 50 states, is extremely cumbersome and takes time.

What are additional considerations for Driverless deployment for States and cities?

• Reliability• At what scale of deployment we need to

do what?• Consumer demand

• Consumer outreach and education

• Shared use economy• Business models and fees

• Land use, parking

Readiness timing

• Consumer demand for vehicle level 3 and V2V capabilities would be strong

– Young adults seek technologically advanced eco-friendly vehicles with high level of automation

• Promising safety improvement of CV will help accelerate deployment

• From 2018 – 2025 the demand will increase and self-driving vehicles are expected to be present at regional scale.

• 2025 – 2030 is the convergence of Automated and Connected vehicles

Key policy and technical readiness on demand within 10 years

• Requires a highly strategic and coordinated public-private effort– Strong decision making by a range of companies from the

automotive, traffic control, infrastructure, and the technology industry.

– Public agency support at all levels

• More demanding institutionally than technologically– Consumers will demand and drive it!

– Infrastructure guidelines, connectivity and funding

– Legal, privacy and liability issues

– Cybersecurity

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What are the drivers and barriers of wide deployment of CAV?

Planning for it !?

• Long range transportation planning process:

– Inclusion of CV/AV assumptions in the State Long –Range Plan

• Typically a 25 year plan in many states

• Inclusion of educational materials in public involvement millstones

• Inclusion of modified assumptions in the State freight plan (when a separate document)

• Scenario planning

– Modification of assumptions in travel demand forecasting process

• Modified travel characteristics, behavior and data

• Short range transportation plans and programs

– Maintenance budget for signing and striping requirements

– Funding estimate for roadside and intersection communication and data

interface units.

• Communication requirements

– Short range, and backhaul

• Parking requirements

• Public outreach and education

– SBD consumer report on ADAS use – trust, emotion, expectation, etc.